Fanjingshan Golden Summit Stairway

The Golden Summit Stairway is the main ascent route in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, Jiangkou County, Tongren, in northeastern Guizhou, China. Visitors reach the reserve by bus or taxi from Tongren or Jiangkou, then take the scenic-area shuttle to the trailhead; a cable car shortens the climb, and entry tickets are bought at the scenic-area gate. The on-foot route covers about 10 km return, with roughly 1,000 m of ascent, and takes six to eight hours. It is graded hard because of the sustained climbing and altitude rather than technical difficulty. The path is an almost continuous stone stairway through montane forest, with several thousand steps, handrails on exposed sections and little shade near the top. The summit area sits around 2,336 m on a massif that peaks near 2,570 m. The route climbs through broadleaf forest into mossy, cloud-wrapped woodland before emerging at the Red Clouds Golden Summit, a basalt pinnacle crowned by twin Buddhist temples reached by a final steep stair. Sections of the upper stairway are narrow and busy at peak times, and the rock can be slick in fog or rain. Water is available at kiosks near the lower stages and upper plateau, but visitors should carry at least 2 L. Shelter is limited to small teahouses and temple halls near the top. A sensible turn-around is the saddle below the pinnacle if weather closes in, since the final climb is exposed to wind and lightning. Descending by the cable car is common for those with tired knees. The region is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing for its relict biodiversity, so staying on the marked stairway is expected.